Category Archives: career path

Is Your New-Year’s Resolution Useless?

4 Traits of a Company You’ll Want to Work for

Searching for a new job is not always nice and easy. It takes a lot of time, preparation, diligence, you name it! Not only is this search mentally exhausting, but it’s hard enough just getting an interview, let alone finding that awesome company you’ve always wanted to work with. Sometimes we get so caught up in our temporary state of desperation that we are ready to take whatever comes first. Or, the opposite may happen, where we are so stuck in our financial requirements or desired job title that we refuse to work with any company that does not meet those specific needs. Well, you may find that in either situation the decision to accept/refuse a job offer without considering the kind of company you will work for may cost you. Here are some things that I’ve learned say a lot about a company’s structure, which can help you make the right decision when it comes to your next career move.

Let’s not forget about our community.

Cindy and Kaitlyn at the Susan B. Coleman Race for a Cure – June 2016

One of my favorite traits of CP Staffing Solutions is the company’s ability and desire to care and be involved in the community that we are part of. Willingness to give and take care of the community says a lot about a company because it shows that they care about more than just making a profit. When the company cares about others, it means that they will care about you. When they care about you, it means you will have opportunity. Here is one of the messages our president, Cindy Neese, has sent to us:
“Team,
I wanted to share this email with everyone in the office. Kaitlyn recently made me aware of this Volunteer WNY Newsletter that goes out by United Way. If you sign up, you will get then notifications of different opportunities with non-for-profit organizations locally that are looking for volunteers for different fundraisers. As a company, I would like to see us do at least 2 of these each calendar year, but there may be opportunities for you to sign up as individual or family event that you might like to do. Also, if we see something that we can do as a team, this would be a great way to get those notifications. If you click on www.volunteerwny.org, it will take you to the main site where you can register for the monthly newsletter.

Thank you, Cindy”

If you’re not sure whether the company you’re interviewing with has much involvement in their community, then feel free to do some research. Additionally, this could be a good question for you to ask during the interview. When the dreaded “do you have any questions for me?” statement comes up at the end and you draw a blank, you could ask, “Do you have any outside projects that you participate in as company, such as volunteer work or anything like that?”
Our employees make this baby run!

Employee Appreciation Happy Hour!

So maybe the company you’ve encountered doesn’t have the chance to do much volunteer work, but they have other ways in which they show they care: the unquestionable value of their employees. When higher management openly expresses appreciation for their employees, it says a lot about the kind of environment you will be working in. I’ve never met anyone who is a greater example of this than our very own Cindy Neese (I will talk about her a lot, because she truly is awesome).

In a previous blog titled “Note from the President; Cindy Neese on Leadership,” Cindy wrote how “Many leaders could never imagine leading a company with Love – the verb not the emotion. I am talking about actions, not feelings,” and I could honestly say she practices what she preaches. Cindy never misses the opportunity to let us know when we do a good job, (no matter how small the task is), she lets us know the ways in which our job is valuable and useful – just this morning she came in to ring a bell to tell everyone how they’re doing a wonderful job, due to some good news she had just received – and she does her best to do really nice gestures for us all. Not only does this kind of appreciation motivate employees, but it makes us happy to come and work with her.
We’re like a second family.

Facebook post from a valued employee 🙂

One of the most important facts about valuing employees is that the expression of care is contagious! As a leader, Cindy teaches all of us how to treat each other in the same manner, which makes for a great atmosphere in the workplace. A great company will not only have top management care for you, but it will also have its employees caring for each other. It is a huge sign of good leadership. The same way our president gives praise to her employees, we also give praise to each other. The same way she makes great, small gestures, we also do those kinds of gestures for each other (as you can see from the picture on the right). I love our team! 🙂

When you decide to work for a particular company, it might be a good idea to scope out the atmosphere. How do employees treat each other, talk to (or about) each other? If you can’t really tell at first glance, you could check out some of the company reviews online. Additionally, if you know someone already in the company, you can ask them for their opinion on how they feel about the environment. Having a good crew to work with means you will have a much more relaxed environment, making you feel more motivated to come to work, as opposed to having to come in to work with people that just… don’t necessarily make for a great experience. 🙂
No more drama!

The Whisper by Brian Smithson

The very last thing you would want to deal with at your new job is drama. This is not always very easy to spot from a first interview, but it will not take long for it to surface if you’ve already started the job. One way you can spot this trait is by watching for the kinds of things your interviewer decides to share about the company or its staff. A previous coworker and friend (from a previous company I used to work for), told me about their interview experience. This individual was completely in shock because, during the interview, the manager began to talk about the employees, and not necessarily in a positive way. The interviewing manager talked about some of the employee’s personalities, using phrases such as “so-and-so can be very defensive,” as well as, “we have someone who doesn’t seem to want be here,” and, “everything is a mess because so-and-so did this,” etc.

When the interviewer blatantly discredits his/her employees, it may be a sign of mistrust, favoritism, and undervalue. This is the part where you start to look at your other options (red flag alert!). Having this kind of environment in the workplace can attribute to significant levels of stress, as well as interfere with your ability and skills to do your job in the first place. It also makes you question the kind of opportunity you’ll really have in the company if it will mainly depend on how much your boss “likes you.”

Choose success, but don’t forget peace of mind.

Before making the decision to jump on board or “swipe left” on a particular company, make sure you take note of the little things. Working for an unethical company or one that does not value its employees and/or their talents will only hurt you in the long run, and you will be miserable – no matter what your title is or how much they pay you. If you’ve already started working for the company, these traits (or the lack thereof) can be easy to spot. If you see some issues, your best bet is to run as soon as you can – while never forgetting to be professional. Even if you’re not being directly affected, it is only a matter of time before it catches up to you. By all means, choose a career path that will bring you success, but be very careful to choose the right company to help you get there! 🙂

computer20people20-20talia-3875-final_zpsynpbyivy

By Nayadee Wilson

4 Staffing Agency Myths You Probably Believed

1 Reply

Since I’ve started working for CP Staffing Solutions (we’re awesome, by the way), I’ve come into several conversations about staffing agencies with some of my friends that have left me a little surprised – well, maybe not so much “surprised” as much as “curious.” I came to find that some of the things that people think and believe about staffing agencies are incredibly misconstrued. Furthermore, it made me wonder, how is it that these misconceptions have gone on for so long? Working for one directly, I can be the first to tell you that many of these are just simply not true; you’ve been bamboozled! Let’s tackle some of these myths and uncover some great truths.

The fee
Myth: A staffing agency will take a cut from your salary.
Fact: The hiring company pays a staffing fee to the agency, not you.

I can see how people can come to this conclusion; I thought the same thing when I started searching for a job through a staffing agency. However, the reality is that the hiring company pays a staffing fee to the agency based on, but separate from, your salary. A few years ago I took some time away from the workforce to travel, and when I came back I needed a job (like ASAP), so I went through a staffing agency. Not only did I not have to pay a fee, but they also did all the job searching for me and I got a job in less than a week after meeting with them. Working with an agency actually has some pretty good perks, and it will not cost you a dime. Here is what some of our recruiters had to say on the subject:”It’s amazing how many people still think that’s true. It WAS true many, many years ago when I went through an agency. They wanted a percentage of your first year’s salary but that is not the case now.” – Beth Courtney, Sr. Sourcing Specialist at ComputerPeople Staffing.

“A company that decides not to make an investment in an employee because of an agency fee likely isn’t a company you would want to work for anyway.” – Faith Drew, Recruiter at FinancialPeople Staffing.
The pay negotiation
Myth: An agency job will probably be low-pay, and you won’t be able to negotiate.
Fact: Agencies provide a wide range of salaries, from entry level to experienced positions, and will facilitate negotiation.

So this one is kind of a two-fer; not only do people believe that agencies will offer them a poor salary, but they also believe that the option of negotiation is off the table. What actually happens is that a recruiter will look at your resume and your experience, talk to you about what you’re looking for, and give you a realistic and honest perspective on what you should expect. The great thing is, you don’t have to be afraid of telling your recruiter what you want or what your absolute minimum is. In fact, some of the best chances of negotiation will happen with your recruiter because they are the ones that deal with the company directly; they can negotiate the best pay according to your salary preference and experience. Oftentimes negotiating on your own can be awkward and/or stressful (at least for me it would be O_O), while recruiters are usually trained in this area. Instead of running the chance of starting your new job on a wrong note, having your recruiter negotiate your salary will ensure that everything goes smoothly, and you would still look like a superstar 😉 . See? This actually works out in your favor. 🙂
The temporary job
Myth: Agencies only offer temp jobs.
Fact: Agencies offer all kinds of jobs.

Simple and to the point: we have a wide variety of jobs, not just temporary jobs. The misconception may come from the fact that a lot of these jobs may start out as a temporary role, but often times these temporary jobs will turn into full-time, permanent ones. Good companies like to keep good talent; if you do end up starting out with a temporary gig, make sure you showcase your best! 🙂 Here is what one of our recruiters had to say on the matter:

“We work with all position types—permanent, contract/temp, temp to perm, and per diem.” – Liz Ragan, Recruiter at MedicalPeople Staffing.
The low quality factor
Myth: Agencies don’t have good “big girl/big boy” jobs; you’d be lowering your standards.
Fact: A lot of great, high paying jobs can only be found through a good agency.
Really take the time to think about it: why would a company go through the trouble of paying professional recruiters to find them employees? Well, simply put, because they want the best talent for the best jobs. Otherwise the company would be, basically, wasting their money. An agency can find you jobs that you could otherwise miss, so it’s certainly worth your time. Here is our last thought:

“Most of the clients we work with only work through recruiters. This is especially true at large companies when it comes to contract roles, and small companies when it comes to permanent roles. So working with an agency is often the only way to find jobs like that. Companies invest in agencies to find them the best talent that will stay long term and be a good fit long term.” – Faith Drew, Recruiter at FinancialPeople Staffing.

Now that we’ve uncovered some truths, if you’re looking for a change of pace, a new job, or a new career path, give the staffing agency a shot! You never know – you could very well find your dream job when you least expect it. And just to let you in on one last, little secret: no one will go out of their way to prep you for an interview the way your recruiter will (at least all of our recruiters do!), optimizing your chances of getting the job. What more is there to say? Give it a try, and see how it goes. From my personal experience, staffing agencies have always been a great help in my career search, and they could very well do the same for you!

*This blog was expanded from the original blog “Five Misleading Myths About Getting A Job Through a Staffing Company“*

By Nayadee Wilson

“You Can’t Make Me!” – Being Ethical VS Being Insubordinate

3 Replies

Have you ever been assigned a task that you felt uncomfortable with? Additionally, have you always handled these situations properly? Ahh – that’s where the tricky part comes in. The rules of ethics can often seem to be perfectly black and white, while in other instances they may appear to have a grey area. Sometimes what is ethical for some may not be ethical for others, and so unwanted confrontations and conflict can arise (sometimes more than just your typical eyebrow-raiser O_O). When it comes to the workplace, while we all want to adhere to our ethical standards, we also want to be very careful of the way in which we handle these somewhat uncomfortable, yet common situations. There are a few things you can do in order to protect yourself, and the company, from engaging in what you believe to be unethical behavior/tasks while also keeping away from being labeled as an insubordinate employee; you do not want the latter!

That’s not right, so I’m not doing it.

One of the things you should be aware of is what the meaning of insubordination actually is. Insubordination in the workplace is defined as defiance of authority (refusal to obey others), disrespectful behavior, and/or a confrontation between an employee and a supervisor/manager. So, before refusing to do a particular task due to it appearing unethical, take a moment to brainstorm over the situation. Something you definitely want to refrain from is being disrespectful. The abrupt refusal of doing your task may come off as disrespectful behavior, consequently placing you in disciplinary action or putting your job in jeopardy. Take the time to analyze whether it truly is an unethical task, or if it is a biased opinion on your behalf (which can happen, we all have awesome, unique brains 🙂 ). That being said, once you’ve properly evaluated your circumstances, if the task seems to remain unethical you are now ready to decide on what your next step should be, and ask yourself some reasonable questions.

Question no.1 – Can they do that?

The greatest tool you can have at your disposal is information. When encountering a “grey area” in the topic of ethics, something that can help you greatly is your company handbook, and/or a list of company policies and procedures. Reviewing these will often help you make the distinction between having ethical vs unethical requests. The reality is that your boss might not be a bad guy, so give her/him a break; your boss may just be trying a different means to an outcome that could or could not be in line with company policy, without having analyzed the situation further. Therefore, keeping up with proper procedures on your end is essential. Another thing you should be informed about is your legal rights. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (our great friend, OSHA) does protect you in the event that your refusal to work is truly due to an unethical issue. Hence, if you refuse to do a certain task because you believe “in good faith” that what you were asked to do is unethical, it will not be considered insubordination.

Question no.2 – This is obviously unethical! …Or is it?

Again, what may be unethical to some may not be unethical to others, so communication is important here (and use your words!). I’ll give you an example: during a previous position I held as an admin, I was in charge of all the billing. Company procedure was to bill/charge all orders once they had already shipped, and not before. During month end, however, those billing numbers were important to our goals. One of the things I personally struggled with was charging an order before it actually shipped or had been completed – it just didn’t sit quite well with me. While I was only trying to follow company procedure, there was a grey area; would you say billing an order that perhaps didn’t leave the building just yet, but would leave first thing the next morning, was unethical? What about an order that was not leaving the building until next week? This was a discussion that I needed to have with my supervisor, which resulted in a reasonable and understanding conclusion – we worked out what was acceptable without disturbing my ethical standards. While billing something that was ready to leave the very next day was reasonable to me, I was uncomfortable billing an order that was not to be complete until, say, a week later. My boss was very understanding and did not require me to do so. Moral of the story: simply refusing to perform a task may not be the best option, and it can land you in the insubordination platform. Expressing your concern to your supervisor is not only the right thing to do but it also shows your appreciation for the company and its policies, as well as your good ethical standards. Just make sure that you remain respectful, honest, and open to a reasonable discussion 😉 .

Question no.3 – Are they still expecting me to do this?

Let’s say you’ve reviewed your handbook, the company policies and procedures, you’ve spoken to your supervisor about your concern, and yet the answer is still: “just do it.” What’s there to do? In this situation, the Human Resources department becomes your best friend. Your HR department is in place to make sure that you are protected and that all company policies are being followed. If all else fails, your best option will be to bring your concerns forward to someone in HR, and explain the situation as best as you can. Additionally, as tempting as it is, what you will not want to do is bring the matter out in public by talking to your coworkers about the issue, as this may cause you to be seen as insubordinate. As Reference.com puts it, “If it becomes public knowledge then it can be considered insubordination, as the employee is considered to be ruining morale for the company.” Make sure you are well informed regarding your company’s policy, and contact HR (privately – refrain from the urge to gossip!) if you need to.

I still don’t feel comfortable here.

Whelp, you’ve done all you can, and although maybe your particular situation was resolved, it may have ended in a way which still caused you to believe that it was unfair, or unethical. This is the time you may want to think about how the company culture lines up with your own ethical standards and personality. Although the company may have not engaged in what they would consider unethical (how we love that grey area, huh?), the fact that you still feel it is may be an indicator that you will thrive much better in a different atmosphere and company culture. Of course, in cases of serious unethical behaviors such as harassment and/or illegal behavior, I’d advise you to never forget your legal rights and follow through with proper procedure when possible, but also don’t forget your health and well-being – do what is best for you. That being said, given that your situation involves, more or less, just differences in working style, if you do decide to explore different opportunities remember to do it with professionalism, and always end on a good note. Whatever your situation may be, don’t be afraid to stay true to yourself and your moral standards, all while making sure you remain professional and refrain from falling in the traps of insubordination! Nobody wants that :).

By Nayadee Wilson (who has an awesome new pic!)

Stop Slacking Off: Six Tips to Combat Laziness

2 Replies

There are very few people who could honestly say that they don’t struggle with the issue of laziness. Chances are that, like most of us, you probably struggle with laziness every single day of your life, even if it is just at a slight, given moment. You have also probably read multiple articles and tips about how to be more productive and how to boost your motivation to get going. When discussing the topic with my husband (who is actually one of those unusual breeds that is rarely, ever lazy), he said that we should just get active in order to boost our energy level. However, I have come to find that the reality of laziness seems to be more of a “chicken-or-the-egg” kind of predicament; you are advised to be active so that you can have more energy, but you have no energy to want to be active in the first place – see what I’m saying?

We need to have a more realistic approach on the issue of laziness and tackle it a little more aggressively; tackle it in ways that are actually achievable when your body just keeps telling you to stay comfy. In my experience, here are some of the bullet-proof methods I have come to find work best to get you up and running, despite the urges of wanting to “just chill.”

1. I need to rest.

First things first: there is a big difference between being lazy, and your body just simply not getting enough rest. It will be very difficult to be productive in any way if you do not get a good night’s sleep, so make sure you set this as a priority. A good habit to get into is setting a bedtime for yourself (that’s right – it’s not just for children 😉 ). This will begin to create a healthy habit which will allow you to get the amount of sleep you need. You should also stay away from watching “heavy” television shows (i.e. don’t binge-watch episodes of House that will make you think of every possible disease that could be wrong with you), or having any intense conversations close to your bedtime. The goal is to prepare your brain and body to rest at an appropriate time for you; you don’t want anything that might stimulate it too much right before going to bed.

2. I am so pumped!

I am going to guess that there might be a slight chance that the first thing you do in the morning after waking up is grab your phone and scroll through social media, news, sports, etc. You’re not alone – I do it, too. However, if you’re finding it tough to break this habit, there is a way for you to make this routine work in your favor. One thing you could do before going to bed is finding a motivational article (or 2, or 3!) that speaks directly to you and your goals, and save it to read it first thing in the morning. Read the quick summary of it at night and the full article in the morning, rather than going directly to your social media as soon as you open your eyes. Getting this kind of motivation early on will boost your desire to work towards your goals, and you will be more likely to be productive throughout your day. One of my favorite articles to read for morning inspiration is the 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires. This is something that you could read more than once, and it can give you the motivation you need every time. Nonetheless, we are all different, so find the kind of motivation that works for you and get pumped about it every morning! 🙂

3. I have no choice.

This next tip is something that works best on the days you may be off from work, and it never fails for me. What I have started to do on my days off is forcing myself to do a certain task very early in the morning. For example: If I have to schedule a doctor’s appointment, I schedule it at the earliest time I possibly could (granted that I’m getting enough sleep, of course). The idea is that you schedule something you can’t easily get out of, or it would be a great inconvenience if you did. I find that once my task, appointment, etc. is completed, I am awake, energized, and much more able to focus on doing the things I need to do throughout the rest of my day. Since I am not really a work-out type of person, doing this as an alternative forces me to be active very early on and it sets my day up for a good start. Maybe you have that friend that will just not let you get out of working out with him/her if you were to exercise together – definitely make plans to work out with that friend. Whatever the task may be, when you get the chance to schedule these very early errands in your daily routine, take it!

4. I need to eat.

This one is a no-brainer; healthy eating is the energy fuel for your body. I can’t say that I am great at this myself, I struggle a great deal even to just follow little baby steps to eat healthier. However, I notice a great difference in my energy level on the days that I do stick to a healthy menu. A rule of thumb should be to always make sure you eat breakfast, and make sure that it is a healthy one. If you can’t always cook up anything fancy (like most of us), fruits are always a great way to go: apples, papaya, pears, peaches – you name it! Fruits make a great “on-the-go” breakfast and will boost up your energy level (although you should avoid bananas for breakfast, they can make you sleepy ). You should also avoid eating foods that will make you sluggish throughout your day. It is hard for most of us to resist “junk food” on most days, but making these tweaks to your diet will significantly impact your energy level. Check out WebMD’s guide to avoid food that will make you tired if you’re not sure how to get started.

5. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…”

Another great habit to get into every morning is opening up those curtains and embracing the sunshine! Sunlight wakes us up naturally and signals our body that it is time to get going; if you don’t get enough natural light in the morning, you will most likely feel tired and groggy throughout your day. Although, if you live in Buffalo, NY like I do, chances are that this lovely sunshine will not visit your home very often during our awesome winter months (which seem to be 10 times longer than months in any other place of the world; but that’s ok – we still love our city 🙂 ). So in the event that you’re not necessarily in an “abundant sunshine” kind of place, you can also opt for the alternative: a natural light alarm. These really neat alarms wake you up naturally with a sunrise-like effect, and can be almost just as effective.

6. I am on a roll!

Finally, a great way to escape from the lazy gravitational pull is by gaining momentum. When you think about all of the things that you need to get done in any given day, it can be intimidating, overwhelming, and sometimes even depressing. That being said, when you think about it in terms of small little steps at a time, it is not as dreadful. Try to separate your big to-do’s into smaller tasks and go through these one at a time. Once you do this, you’ll get rolling on everything else that you need to do and you will barely even notice. Every single time I actually do this, I always end up being very productive and working efficiently through my daily duties.

There will always be many other, creative ways in which you can fight the urge to slack off, but hopefully these could help you in the same way they help me. Just keep in mind this great quote from TheEveryGirl.com: “Success is not easy, and it is certainly not for the lazy.” Get off the couch, get going, and be all the success you were meant to be.